“All these worlds are yours, except Europa…”

The Europa Clipper successfully launched in October, its mission: determine the habitability of Jupiter’s ice moon and the potential for drinkable water underneath that ice. 

With that comes the almost certainty of some form of life under the icy surface. Will it be tentacled seaweed flower whales or something more…elemental?

It’s the closest we’ve ever come to discovering life elsewhere in the universe, and now the whole world is talking about Europa.

2010 has been at the center of the discussion, from the movie’s probe and the fate of the Chinese mission TSIEN in the book. But everyone can agree on one thing: Attempt no landing there.

Plus: a seaweed cephalopod shvitz, the Martian Pangaea, and an Eli Schwab original!

After orbiting Jupiter's violent volcanic moon, we've seen IO from both sides now.
Back in range and resuming regular transmissions, we present by popular demand another slice of Odyssey aficionado and world famous comic book publisher, Eli Schwab!

Digging into Jack Kirby's dynamic, sometimes polarizing style, exploring the metaphysical in the Space Odyssey comics, and the spiritual dimension of his superheroes, from "Thor" to "Fantastic Four."

The impact of "2001" on Kirby's art, and his contributions to the Odyssey mythos. Kirby, Clarke, and Kubrick's growing influence with future generations, and the call to lift up other artists to pay that inspiration forward.

Plus: the Bible, the meaning of life, and Howard the Duck.

Check out more at Cosmic Lion Productions!

Marvel Comics legend and trailblazer Jack Kirby is known for his work with Joe Simon and Stan Lee, creating Captain America, The Fantastic Four, Thor, The Hulk, The Silver Surfer, and countless other unforgettable superheroes. But in the 1970s, he also created a comic book adaptation (and continuing series!) based on 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Who better to cover this mysterious and little-seen dimension of the Odyssey series than comic book artist and publisher Eli Schwab, who is both a diehard Kirby and 2001 aficionado!

From floating monoliths to the innermost thoughts of the Star Child, this wildly imaginative and bold retelling of our beloved Odyssey is part space adventure, part philosophy...and all Kirby.

Plus: Harlan Ellison, prehistoric witches, and X-51 The Machine Man.

Check out more comics at Cosmic Lion Productions!

Follow along with the pictures: Articles & Resources 

We've got the Need for Mead...

IT'S the return of the Captain of Concept Design, Syd Mead!

There are so many fabulous illustrations in the "Art of 2010" book and no way we could fit them all in one episode.

This time, we're checking out designs for the aerobraking sequence, from detachable shields to sleeping compartments. The evolving look of the pod and the probe, the command console and main deck (with plenty of paneling and circuitry in between).

Inside the mind of a genius lie visions of the future, some of which have already come to pass. Which predictions came true, and what's next?

Plus: storyboards, sound stages, and how to build a ballute.

Follow along with the pictures: Articles & Resources 

Refreshed and lava-burned from a red hot Io summer, we're back on the Leonov to take the ultimate orbital roller coaster ride - aerobraking!

As Soviet-American relations warm and mutual respect grows among scientists aboard the ship, the themes of loyalty, common humanity, and faith in each other return as Floyd and Irina share a death-defying experience.

Hyams and Clarke's odyssey for the perfect futuristic technique, the real-life science and strategy of aerobraking, and the recent maneuvers around Mars.

Sit down and strap in for a slingshot around Jupiter with Captain Kirbuk and the crew.

Plus: ballutes, burbles, and Boohbahs.

"2010" was MGM's major motion picture of the year, with major hype, media train, and even merch (!?)

Leap back to December 1984 with Virginia Smith, and experience what it was like to be a young fan of the most influential science fiction of the 20th century, right at the peak of the party!

Hear Virginia's inspiring example of following your passion and staying true to your art, living the 90's life at Nickelodeon and Sega, and her entry into the world of robot building.

How her passion for "2010" and "Short Circuit" led her to once-in-a-lifetime encounters with cast, crew and props. And why the Venn diagram connecting these two films may be bigger than you think.

Plus: Johnny Five, Buddy Hackett, and Bug!

Check out Virginia Smith's artwork at thegirlinthepicture.com 

Science fiction artist, video game animator, and media science communicator Virginia Smith joins us to discuss the world's most famous computer twins.

While HAL was off flying a spaceship to Jupiter, incapable of error, his sister SAL-9000 was back in Urbana, Illinois identifying each of his mistakes, confusing mission control, and freaking out Drs. Bowman and Poole.

The similarities and differences between these silicon siblings, their own characteristics and motivations, and examining their relationship with "dad" Dr. Chandra and each other.

What it was like seeing "2010" for the first time as a teenager, and becoming a lifelong fan in 1984! 

Plus: T. R. Baskin, Murphy Brown, and Mortimer Snerd. (Warning - here be SPOILERS!)

Check out Virginia Smith's artwork at thegirlinthepicture.com 

We've examined the ship, now let's get to know our cosmonaut crew mates aboard LEONOV. Here are the stories of our super-scientist, coffee-chugging Russian roomies and the fascinating lives of the great actors who played them. (Aside from Captain Kirbuk, who is, of course, "The Queen.") Hope "Moscow on the Hudson" is on your bingo card...

They made incredible sacrifices for their families, faiths, and artistic freedom. Maybe we can see ourselves in the faces of all those looking for a better life.

Plus: Herve Villechaize, Robin Williams, and Soundgarden.

STARRING:

• Elya Baskin as Maxim Brailovsky

• Savely Kramarov as Vladimir Rudenko

• Oleg Rudnik as Vasili Orlov

• Natasha Shneider as Irina Yakunina

• Vladimir Skomarovsky as Yuri Svetlanov

• Victor Steinbach as Mikolai Ternovsky

• Jan Triska as Alexander Kovalev

The collapse of the Arecibo Observatory in 2020 marked the end of an era for generations of astronomers, climatologists, SETI researchers, and space enthusiasts.

From 1963 until its closure in 2023, Arecibo, Puerto Rico housed the world’s largest radio telescope, and “2010” was originally going to start there!

Thanks to The Odyssey File, we have Arthur C. Clarke and Peter Hyams’ insightful and hilarious conversations about the concepts, logistics, and challenges that ultimately lead from Puerto Rico to New Mexico and the VLA.

Plus: the arguments around transmitting messages to outer space, Carl Sagan, pulsars, and Goldeneye!

Monday, April 8, marks the biggest, longest, most widely visible solar eclipse to cross the United States in a long time, and the last one for 20 years!

Celebrate the eclipse experience, the history, myth and lore, and amazing science that only comes in that breathtaking few minutes. Tips on how to look, what to look for, and what to expect from Wes, and from NASA (Tahira Allen and Dr. Gina DiBraccio.)

Check out Arthur C. Clarke's observations, and the instances of eclipses and celestial alignments in the Odyssey series.

Plus: helium, reptile housemates, and Lance Bass!

NASA Solar Eclipse

NASA Eclipse Explorer - Where and When

NASA Live Eclipse Broadcast

For our first look at the book The Official Art of 2010, we pay tribute to the genius of concept artist Syd Mead, his career in industry and in entertainment, and his unique vision.

He imagined not only cars, spinners, ships of sea, air and space, but immersive now worlds around them. Celebrating the beauty of both form and function, his designs are always the perfect synthesis of art and engineering.

His contributions to Star Trek, Blade Runner, Aliens, Tron, and of course, 2010: The Year We Make Contact! This week it's the LEONOV, from concept to craft. 

Follow along with the pictures at Articles & Resources.

Plus: CD-rom games, Gundam, and goulash.

Haunted by his past, Dr. Floyd moves to Hawaii and makes a new life with marine biologist wife, Caroline, and young son, Christopher.

Still healing from years of tragedy, he finds himself at a crossroads to reinvent his purpose. Taking the last opportunity to atone for all that had gone horribly wrong, and the sacrifices he - and his family - have to make. 

The Odyssey File is a fascinating peek into the film's development and production, with candid conversations between Arthur C. Clarke and Peter Hyams.

They reveal the elaborate details of Heywood's Honolulu home, and the real and surreal journey of getting dolphins in the house. 

Plus: Esther Williams, orangutans dressed as highland gorillas, and penguins dressed as Pooh.

We're back on the Moon! Thanks to the success of our aptly named "Odysseus" lander, NASA and Intuitive Machines are kicking off a year full of amazing lunar landings and experiments.

As the crew of Artemis II prepare to launch next September, what could be our future on the Moon?

What are the benefits and downsides of nations or corporations leading the charge?

The importance of NASA and its core mission to benefit humanity, and the increasing gains in diversity, exciting new accelerated research, and cancer eradication experiments.

Plus: pogo sticks, surviving on the air from hot fries bags, and the continued purpose and strategy of the International Space Station (In its future, we see a wheel...)

Sunrise at the Very Large Array Telescope (VLA), and Drs. Floyd and Moisevitch have to plan a bi-lateral salvage operation between opposing world powers in less than two minutes.

It's 2010's new space race, as filmed during the Cold War in '84. 

Dial in on the real-life function and history of the world's largest radio telescope array, and its ever-expanding future!

Plus: the NICER way of radio scanning, planning a trip to Jupiter, and Lewis & Clarke! (Clive & Arthur - a surprising friendship.)

2010 Year has docked! We’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of Peter Hyams & Arthur Clarke’s knockout followup, 2010: The Year We Make Contact with a year of exciting discoveries following the team who rediscover Discovery One!

And, of course, we still have plenty more to come on 2001.

This week, a (fairly) spoiler-free introduction to 2010, the background, our love for it, and why we believe it deserves just as much conversation and provokes as many questions for what it is: NOT a sequel to perhaps the greatest motion picture of all time, but its own fascinating story told its own way. A Kubrick-sanctioned, Arthur C. Clarke-written, Academy Award-nominated science fiction classic.

Plus: we’ve booked a ride on the Europa Clipper! (We will attempt no landing there.)

Checking in to the universe's most exclusive hotel, it's time to unpack, explore, and maybe play a little chess. Is that a Louis XVI throne pod?

Dave and Frank's relationship, and humans' innate need for each other. Long-term isolation: is it tao, torment, or vacation?

Gilded cage or petrie dish, this surreal environment evokes the most basic questions of life:
What is time?  When is a ceiling a floor? Are we in the bathroom?

So many hidden meanings, so little much time. 

Plus: Homesteading Space by David Hitt and the Skylab gravitational belly pull factor.

R.H. Vatcher is BACK to toast in the New Year with a smorgasbord of insights from his 2019: The Odyssey Brief: BREACHING THE HULL OF DISCOVERY PARTS III AND IV.

Uncovering the many cultural elements revolving around this elliptical journey, from Jungian breakthrough to the groundbreaking scientific discoveries showcased in Life Magazine.

How serendipity or subconscious parallels to the prior roles of these now iconic actors may have influenced their casting.

The impact of Star Trek on a generation and its connections to 2001.

Plus: does Fellini + Kubrick = 2008 & 1/2? (okay, it'd be 2009 1/2, but c'mon...)  

Also check out R.H. Vatcher's:

Punching Through the Kevlar of Stanley Kubrick's 'FULL METAL JACKET'

I am Jack's Ax: Breaking Down the Barriers of Stanley Kubrick's Film 'THE SHINING'